How to automatically start programs in a specific order?

Question

I have these lines in my i3 configuration file:

# Startup applications.
exec firefox
exec gnome-terminal
exec nautilus

These lines start firefox, gnome-terminal and nautilus as expected, but the order in which they start is unpredictable. Is there a way to start these applications in a way that makes the windows appear in the order that I want? (i.e. firefox, then gnome-terminal, then nautilus).

Answer 1

Refer to Layout saving in i3.

Add this to the i3 configuration file:

# Create specific layout for applications.
exec --no-startup-id "i3-msg 'workspace 1; append_layout ~/.config/i3/workspace-1.json'"
# Start applications.
exec firefox
exec gnome-terminal

Create ~/.config/i3/workspace-1.json:

// Layout of a workspace.
{
    "layout": "tabbed",
    // To get a window's class name, run xprop and click on the window.
    // You will see the following output:
    //     WM_CLASS(STRING) = "InstanceName", "ClassName"
    // Alternatively, "swallow" by the window's title.
    "nodes": [
        {"swallows": [{"class": "^Firefox$"}]},
        {"swallows": [{"class": "^Gnome-terminal$"}]}
    ]
}